The mill by the far woods was owned by Sadie McKibben's family. Several other neighbors of Opal's also worked in the McKibben mill.

A lumber mill turns cut trees and logs into planks and lumber. The loggers and mill workers live near it in bunk houses housing as many as 20 or more men. The McKibben lumber mill burned down in 1907, a couple of years after Opal moved from Walden into Cottage Grove.

Mrs. Limberger is a plump neighbor of Opal's who lives in a large house. The Limberger's also owned the lane where Opal walked.

The Limbergers were still alive when Opal's diary was published in 1920. Their real name was "Linebaugh" and they owned a large piece of land near Opal's family. Mr. N.J. Linebaugh was from Germany or one of the Scandinavian countries. He built several barns in the area using a type of wood work found on ocean ships.